Find DeKalb County Death Records

DeKalb County death records are available through the Probate Court in Decatur. This is one of the most populous counties in Georgia, with more than 760,000 residents and dozens of cities and communities spread across the metro Atlanta area. The DeKalb County Probate Court handles all death certificate requests for the county. You can walk in for same-day service, order online through the state ROVER system, or request copies by mail. This page covers every method for searching and ordering death records in DeKalb County.

DeKalb County Probate Court Vital Records

The DeKalb County Probate Court is your main source for death records. It sits at 445 Winn Way in Decatur. This office handles death certificate requests, marriage licenses, wills, estates, and other probate matters for DeKalb County. Staff can search the state vital records database and issue certified copies of death certificates while you are there. The probate court is the local vital records registrar for the county.

Under OCGA § 31-10-2, all Georgia county vital records offices connect to a single central database. This means the DeKalb County Probate Court can pull death certificates from any county in the state. If someone died in Chatham County or Muscogee County, you can still get the certificate in Decatur. You do not have to travel to the county where the death took place.

Bring your photo ID and the details of the person who died. The clerk needs the full name, date of death, and place of death. If the record is on file, you can get a certified copy the same day. The fee is $25 for the first copy. Extra copies in the same order cost $5 each. Walk-in service at the DeKalb County Probate Court is the fastest option.

DeKalb County Medical Examiner and Death Records

One thing that confuses people in DeKalb County is the role of the Medical Examiner. The DeKalb County Medical Examiner investigates certain deaths but does not provide death certificates to the public. If someone calls the Medical Examiner's office asking for a copy of a death certificate, they will be told to go to the probate court instead.

The DeKalb County Medical Examiner death certificates page makes this clear on their site.

The Medical Examiner handles cases where the cause of death is not clear. Accidents, homicides, suicides, drug overdoses, and deaths with no doctor present all go through their office in DeKalb County. Their findings end up on the death certificate, but the certificate itself is filed with and issued by the probate court. For any copy of a DeKalb County death record, you go to the probate court at 445 Winn Way in Decatur or use the state options listed below.

Note: The DeKalb County Medical Examiner does not give out death certificates, so go straight to the probate court for copies.

How to Order DeKalb County Death Records

Three methods exist for getting a death certificate in DeKalb County. Walk in to the probate court in Decatur for the fastest service. Order online through ROVER if you want to do it from home. Or send a mail request to the state office.

The ROVER system at services.georgia.gov/gta/rover handles online orders. It charges $25 for the certificate and $8 for processing. All orders ship from the state office in Atlanta by USPS. Plan for 8 to 10 weeks. Under OCGA § 31-10-27, fees are due before any work starts and they are not given back if the record is not found. Due to high volume, the state has paused rush service through ROVER.

Third-party vendors like VitalChek (877-572-6343) and GO Certificates also process Georgia death record orders. They add their own service fees but can sometimes offer faster delivery. The DPH third-party ordering page lists all vendors that handle Georgia death records.

For mail orders, send to the Georgia Department of Public Health, Vital Records, 1680 Phoenix Boulevard, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30349. Include the full name of the person who died, date and place of death, number of copies, your relationship, and a copy of your photo ID. Pay with money order or certified check. Personal checks are not accepted. Mail takes 8 to 10 weeks once the state has your full packet.

Who Can Get DeKalb County Death Certificates

Georgia law under OCGA § 31-10-25 limits who can get certified copies. Close family has full access. This includes the spouse, parents, adult children, adult siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren. Legal representatives and parties with a tangible interest, such as insurance companies, estate administrators, and attorneys, can also get certified DeKalb County death records.

Anyone else can get a plain paper copy. Under OCGA § 31-10-26, the registrar issues copies to anyone who makes a written request and shows a photo ID. The Social Security number is blacked out on plain copies. They work for research and general proof but are not certified. Both types cost the same at the DeKalb County Probate Court.

Death Certificate Filing in DeKalb County

When a death happens in DeKalb County, the funeral director files the death certificate. Under OCGA § 31-10-15, the certificate must reach the county registrar within 72 hours. A doctor or the DeKalb County Medical Examiner certifies the cause of death. The county registrar then sends the record to the state office in Atlanta for permanent storage.

Given the size of DeKalb County, a significant number of deaths each year go through the Medical Examiner's office. This includes accidents on major highways, homicides in the county, and deaths at hospitals where no treating doctor can certify the cause. If the cause cannot be determined within 48 hours, "pending" goes on the certificate. The record gets updated once the investigation is done. After the certificate is filed, copies become available from both the DeKalb County Probate Court and the state office.

Amendments cost $10 plus the price of a new certified copy. Current year corrections are free. The DPH Vital Records page has amendment forms and instructions for all Georgia death records.

DeKalb County Death Record Fees

A certified death certificate from DeKalb County costs $25 for the first copy. Each additional copy in the same order is $5. These are the standard Georgia fees set by the Department of Public Health. The DPH fee schedule lists all current prices.

ROVER adds an $8 processing fee for online orders. Third-party vendors charge their own extra fees. Fetal death certificates cost $10 in Georgia. At the DeKalb County Probate Court, you can pay with cash, money order, or certified check. Online orders take credit and debit cards.

Historical Death Records in DeKalb County

The state has death records from 1919 forward. DeKalb County was created in 1822, so deaths in the area go back much further than the state system. The Georgia Archives in Morrow holds historical death indexes and older documents from before modern record keeping. Some early DeKalb County death records may be in their collection, especially from the Decatur area.

The DeKalb County Probate Court may also have old estate records, wills, and guardian papers that contain death dates. These alternate sources are useful when no formal death certificate exists. Parts of what is now the City of Atlanta were once in DeKalb County before Fulton County was carved out, so some early Atlanta deaths may show up in DeKalb records at the Georgia Archives.

Cities in DeKalb County

DeKalb County has many cities and unincorporated areas. All death records go through the probate court in Decatur regardless of which city you live in.

Other communities in DeKalb County include Decatur, Lithonia, Clarkston, Pine Lake, and Stone Mountain. All death certificate requests for these areas go through the DeKalb County Probate Court at 445 Winn Way in Decatur.

Nearby Counties

These counties border DeKalb County in metro Atlanta. Each has its own vital records registrar for death certificates.